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One of the league's most aggressive and creative play-callers, it's baffling that Jackson will be limited to position coach duties for the second consecutive year in 2013, but at least he'll be on the right side of the ball. Jackson should get another chance to lead an offense sooner rather than later, but it's clear his brash ways in Oakland didn't earn him many friends around the league. Wed, Jan 30, 2013 02:11:00 PM

Despite upcoming interviews for the head-coaching vacancies of the Eagles and Cardinals, Bengals OC Jay Gruden has "every intention" of staying in Cincinnati.

Gruden turned down interview requests last year before signing a three-year extension with the Bengals. "I got called to interview for these jobs. I figure I better say yes or they'll quit asking me," explained Gruden. "I also know in this business your welcome mat doesn't last forever and I'm sure mine has probably been kicked off the doorstep." Gruden does have interest in eventually leading his own team, but suggested the timing isn't right just yet. Tue, Jan 8, 2013 03:33:00 PM

New Bengals assistant special teams/secondary coach Hue Jackson is viewed as insurance against losing offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to a head coaching job in 2013, according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post.

In a smart move, the Bengals have essentially installed Jackson as coordinator-in-waiting as well as a sounding board for coach Marvin Lewis. Gruden recently inked a three-year, $3.6 million extension, but there's concern that he could fly the coop next offseason after turning down serious interest from the Jaguars and Colts in January. Sun, Feb 26, 2012 06:39:00 AM

Bengals hired Hue Jackson as an assistant special teams/secondary coach.

Jackson had to settle for a low-level defensive assistant job after essentially being black-balled following a year-ending press conference in Oakland that was negatively perceived around the NFL. A former receivers coach in Cincinnati, Jackson has a background with Marvin Lewis. He may attempt to reenter the coordinator ranks next offseason. His "market" appeal was shot for 2012. Fri, Feb 17, 2012 02:37:00 PM

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Despite upcoming interviews for the head-coaching vacancies of the Eagles and Cardinals, Bengals OC Jay Gruden has "every intention" of staying in Cincinnati.

Gruden turned down interview requests last year before signing a three-year extension with the Bengals. "I got called to interview for these jobs. I figure I better say yes or they'll quit asking me," explained Gruden. "I also know in this business your welcome mat doesn't last forever and I'm sure mine has probably been kicked off the doorstep." Gruden does have interest in eventually leading his own team, but suggested the timing isn't right just yet.

New Bengals assistant special teams/secondary coach Hue Jackson is viewed as insurance against losing offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to a head coaching job in 2013, according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post.

In a smart move, the Bengals have essentially installed Jackson as coordinator-in-waiting as well as a sounding board for coach Marvin Lewis. Gruden recently inked a three-year, $3.6 million extension, but there's concern that he could fly the coop next offseason after turning down serious interest from the Jaguars and Colts in January.

Bengals hired Hue Jackson as an assistant special teams/secondary coach.

Jackson had to settle for a low-level defensive assistant job after essentially being black-balled following a year-ending press conference in Oakland that was negatively perceived around the NFL. A former receivers coach in Cincinnati, Jackson has a background with Marvin Lewis. He may attempt to reenter the coordinator ranks next offseason. His "market" appeal was shot for 2012.

Bengals signed offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to a three-year, $3.6 million extension.

Gruden coached the AFL's Orlando Predators and UFL's Florida Tuskers before landing in Cincinnati, so he may have leaked the news to a reporter there. The extension reportedly doubles his original salary. Honorably, Gruden has turned down all head-coaching interview offers to remain as the Bengals' offensive coordinator, and this is how the organization has repaid him.

Bengals OC Jay Gruden has confirmed he won't be interviewing for any head-coaching jobs this offseason.

"I’m new to this. If I’d been in the league 25 years, I would have interviewed," Gruden said. "I just wanted to put it to bed and move on with what we’ve got going here. I was sick of reading tweets I knew nothing about." A coach in a league where a coordinator's stock can explode or crash in only a matter of weeks, Gruden is tempting fate by staying put, but should remain on the head-coaching radar as long as the Bengals' young offense stays on the right track in 2012.

We like the news for Andy Dalton, who will enter his second NFL season in the same offensive system. The Rams recently reached out to Gruden as a potential fallback option if they don't land Jeff Fisher. He's unwilling to interview. Gruden had also been rumored as a candidate in Jacksonville. Gruden interestingly took a recent veiled shot at impending free agent Cedric Benson for pouting on the sideline while Bernard Scott was in. The Bengals may be on the prowl for a new feature back this offseason.

Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said Monday that he has not received inquiries about any head-coaching jobs.

Teams could have contacted Gruden leading up to the Wild Card round, but he insists no one did despite one NFL Network report that Gruden was the favorite for the Jaguars' job. If Gruden returns to Cincinnati in 2012, it would be great news for Andy Dalton entering his first full offseason in the same system.

Jay Gruden admits he was "absolutely kind of surprised" to be hired as Bengals offensive coordinator in February.

Gruden was a UFL and Arena League coach before his shocking hire by Cincinnati. We'd never heard his name linked to coordinator jobs prior to the move. "I originally thought that from my background I would have to come in (to the NFL) as a position coach," he conceded. It's fair to wonder if the nickel-and-dime Bengals hired Gruden because he came at a low cost.

"Chucky's" little brother -- Jay is 43, Jon 47 -- Jay brings the Gruden name back to the NFL after splitting seven seasons between the Arena League and UFL. Gruden's only big-league experience came in 2002-2006 on his brother's Bucs staff as "offensive assistant." There's just no telling how good of an NFL coordinator Gruden will be. It's somewhat notable that his 2010 Florida Tuskers ranked second in the UFL in rushing, but last in pass offense. Coach Marvin Lewis wants a ball-control approach in Cincy.

Profootballtalk.com reports that UFL coach Jay Gruden is under consideration for the Bengals' offensive coordinator job.

A recent Bengals.com story also indicated that the team's OC search would end quickly, and rumors of Gruden-to-Cincinnati are picking up steam. Jay, of course, is Jon's little brother. He spent five seasons with the AFL's Orlando Predators before spending the last two in the United Football League.

Ex-Vikings head coach Brad Childress is not a candidate for the Bengals' offensive coordinator vacancy.

Both NFLN's Jason La Canfora and Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune have reported as much. Chilly doesn't seem to be getting any serious interest, despite previous links to the Rams' OC job as well as the Bengals after a dinner with Marvin Lewis. He may spend 2011 out of coaching.

This one comes out of left field as the Bengals were widely expected to keep Bratkowski, who just finished his 10th season as offensive boss. The timing suggests it may be related to Carson Palmer's trade request. The Bengals' offense has underperformed, failing to finish better than 22nd in points in any of the last three seasons. Former Vikings coach Brad Childress, who had dinner with Marvin Lewis a couple weeks ago, could emerge as a candidate.

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis reportedly had dinner with former Vikings head coach Brad Childress on Thursday evening.

A surprise, since the general consensus around the league was that Bob Bratkowski's return as the Bengals' offensive coordinator was a formality. Childress, of course, runs a West Coast offense, but one that is more run based than others. His hiring would be great news for running back Cedric Benson, who is likely as good as gone if Bratkowski is retained after the two clashed down the stretch in 2010.